Shot composition

Composition refers to the positioning or arrangement of people, objects and landscapes in the frame.

Good composition can enhance the meaning of an image and there are several factors film-makers must consider when composing a shot.

Framing

Thinking about where objects and people are in the frame itself is crucial.

If a character is important in a scene, a shot might place them in the centre of the frame.

If two characters are drifting apart, one way to show that might be to position them at opposite ends of the frame.

A scene in Rio de Janeiro with a rule of thirds grid superimposed over the top

^{One specific tool film-makers sometimes use to help with framing is the Rule of Thirds.}

The Rule of Thirds is an approach to framing which divides the frame into three sections across the horizontal and vertical lines.

Placing actors, edges of objects or the line of the horizon on these imaginary lines makes it easier to create balanced and pleasant compositions.

If you want to use the Rule of Thirds to improve your framing, most cameras will allow you to add a grid to the image in your viewfinder.

Depth

When composing a shot you should also think about how to add depth to the image.

In standard film-making and photography every photo or shot is a two dimensional image.

A man sitting in the foreground with cloisters in the background

^{You can give a sense of three dimensional space to all of your shots by thinking about how far or near objects are to your camera and to each other.}

The plane of action closest to your camera is called the foreground, the plane of action furthest away is called the background and the area in between is called the mid-ground.

Good composition will use the interplay between all three planes to create a sense of depth.